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Preamble
Paul wrote a number of letters during his ministry which spanned 35
years, from his call in AD 32 to the traditional date of his martyrdom in
AD 67. Through God's inspiration,
thirteen of these have
been preserved for us in the canon of Scripture,
nine of which were
written to seven ecclesias
(at Rome, Corinth
[2], Galatia, Ephesus,
Philippi, Colossae,
and Thessalonika [2]),
while four to
were sent to three individuals
(Timothy [2], Titus, and Philemon).
If we keep in mind that Jesus Christ was born around 4BC, and was
crucified, resurrected, and ascended in the spring of 30AD, we can set the
time context of events.
The Order of Paul's Letters
The sequence of Paul's letters, in the
Bible that we now have, does not follow a chronological order but, rather,
a thematic one.
The Preparatory Epistles - Faith
Romans AD 57 / 58, winter, from
Corinth Justification
Conciliation
Deportment
I Corinthians AD 57 spring, from Ephesus
Deportment
II Corinthians AD 57 fall, from Thessalonica Conciliation
Galatians AD 57, fall, from Ephesus
Justification
The Perfection Epistles -
Love
Ephesians AD 61-63, from
Roman prison Doctrine
Deportment
Philippians AD 61-63, from Roman
prison Deportment
Colossians AD 61-63, from Roman
prison Doctrine
The Promissory Epistles -
Expectation
I
Thessalonians AD 52, from Corinth
II Thessalonians AD 53, from Corinth
The Personal Letters
I Timothy AD 64-67, between imprisonments
II Timothy AD 64-67, between imprisonments
Titus AD 64-67, between imprisonments
Philemon AD 61-63, from Roman prison
INTRODUCTION
God, being invisible and intangible, is an unknowable entity to His
creatures. But He has chosen not to be unknown, not to continue to be the
Unknowable God (Act.17:23), not to remain just a concept of the mind and a
figment of the imagination of His creatures. He reveals Himself.
Scripture reveals that He spoke to Adam in the garden in Eden,
that He questioned Cain over the murder of Abel, that Enoch 'walked with
God', and that so did Noah. But from the Flood to the confusion of
languages at Babel,
mankind did not have contact with God. Much later, however, He singled out
one man to reveal Himself to, to be His friend. Abram was the first of a
string of people God revealed Himself to progressively in more and more
detail.
Outside of revelation, however, Man gropes to define God. From the
imaginations of his mind and the feelings of his heart he decides
the format and the rules that God should fit into if He is to be GOD!
The result of all this postulation and speculation is evident all around us
in the variety of concepts of God, ranging from crude animism to
sophisticated philosophy, which are the bases of religious systems.
Most Christians accept the Bible as the Word of God. Some, however,
place it in juxtaposition with their church creed and tradition. Others use
it merely to bolster their religious views, to support their teachings, or
to give their philosophies a 'Christian' credence.
To us, believers, it must be the only acceptable revelation of
God as well as the only acceptable guideline concerning His
operations. We do not look on the bible merely as a collection of books, a
library, from which to extract and edit material to accord with our
particular sectarian leanings. We do not regard it merely as a book of
wisdom, which it is, but rather as the recorded witness of God's
declarations. Our belief, then, is not in the bible itself, but in God's
declarations that it contains. It carries codes of conduct, declares
promises, details covenants and contracts, etc. It is our reference and
manual to be used for maximum benefit, embodying as it does a revelation of
God, of What He is and Who He is, our relationship to Him,
and our destiny.
God's Hand in Scripture
We should see God's 'breathing', His inspiration, even in the words
that are used - hence our endeavour should be to keep true to the
vocabulary and terminology of God's written word. We should see design and
precision in God's choice of words in the languages of inspiration.
The translations we use for our study of God's revelations must exhibit
respectful precision. We should treat Scripture with the care and reverence
it deserves.
But, often, we do not realise that God first provides the occasions that
call for these inspired words to be recorded.
A little consideration, especially in the Greek scriptures, will show
that these were written to address an incomplete understanding, or an
erroneous grasp, of doctrines and their application among certain
congregations of believers. Had these problems not surfaced, there would
have been nothing to address and we would not have Scripture as
relevant to our living as we know it to be. These weaknesses became the
catalysts that 'caused' the truth to be penned. But, in the words of
Scripture, God operates all in accord with the counsel of His own will
(Eph.1:11). We must see, then, that these aberrations were brought about
through His operations. He caused the Scripture to be needed and,
thus, to be written! He provided the context for Scripture.
Being God's written Word, independent of any 'contribution'
springing from men's wisdom, Scripture provides its own guidelines for its
correct and proper usage.
2Tim.3:16,17
All Scripture is inspired by
God, and is beneficial
for teaching, for exposure, for correction,
for discipline in righteousness,
that the man of God may be equipped, fitted out for every good act.'
2Tim.1:13 Have a pattern of sound words, which
you hear from me,
in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
2Tim.2:15 Endeavour
to present yourself to God qualified,
an unashamed worker, correctly cutting
the word of truth.
It is interesting to note that these injunctions have
been given to us through Paul's epistles. It strongly suggests that there
had not been such a dire need, for 'correctly cutting' and
for 'holding on to a pattern of sound words', before his writings to his
assigned readership, the Uncircumcision, became available.
If we study through the books of Scripture and leave out Paul's epistles
we find a coherent whole with one basic theme - a revelation of God to ONE
particular nation, His Chosen People Israel!
Reference is made to other nations only as they relate to the chosen
race.
When we study Paul's writings, on the other hand, though we also see a
coherent whole, it is with a refreshingly different theme - a revelation of
God to a select group of people called out of ALL nations (including some
out of Israel) to belong to 'the Body of Christ'!
In one and the same collection of God-inspired writings, then, are to be
found two divisions, each having its own coherent
theme. Though many points are common, there are vital differences
between the two groups of writings. Scripture distinguishes between Israel
and the Nations, between the believers of the Circumcision and those
of the Uncircumcision, and between the Bride of the Lamb and the
Body of Christ. These distinctions are so vital that utter confusion
and disappointment would result if they were to be taken as one and the
same revelation to all of mankind.
All scripture is for teaching and training to prepare us for a life of
useful and pleasing service (2Tim.3:16,17; 2:15) to our Lord and Master
Jesus Christ and to His God and Father Who is our God and Father, too!
(John.20:17; 1Cor.8:6)
We must keep in mind, therefore, that God's revelation through Paul is
directed to the Uncircumcision (Gal.2:7-9), a body of believers made
up of some of Jewish origin as well as a majority of those of
the nations. Both of these categories, as one unit, are recipients
of the evangel of the Uncircumcision. While believers out of the nations
required an adjustment from their pagan outlook, those out of Israel
who had come to believe this message had to be adjusted from their
Jewish religious background of circumcision with its law and
traditions.
This must be carefully discerned especially
in the letter to the Romans. There are sections, as we shall see, which
refer to the law. These have been a source of major confusion to many
because they neglect the overall context. To the Circumcision, observance
of the law, with its rituals and ceremonies, remained a critical factor for
kingdom qualification. The message given through Paul, however, is one of Grace
wherein salvation is the gift of God through Faith only,
effected through the faith of Jesus Christ, the law having
nothing to contribute towards that salvation. Hence, rather than
telling his audience that the law still holds, these 'law' sections are intended
to clarify and emphasise to the Uncircumcision members of Jewish origin
the limited function of the law for them, as members of the body of
Christ.
Back to:
Index of Articles - Romans
Proceed to:
Paul, the
Apostle of the Nations
The Structure of the Epistle
February 2003
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